Combination ladder



Aug. 6, 1929. E. CARDARELLI COMBINATION LADDER Filed July 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Al lg. 6, 1929. CARDARE'LLI 1,723,540.

COMBINATION LADDER Filed July 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @6620 r Emilio LJU'J areZZIP/I Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

EMILIO CAR'DARELLI, OF BOSTON, ltIASSACHUSJElTIS.

comnnmtrion LAnpEn.

Application filed July 12,

'lhis invention pertains to combination stepladders of that type in which the rear or brace element of the ladder adapted to slide relatively to the front or step meniber in order to produce an extension ladder and relates more particularly to ladders ot the kind disclosed in my copending application blerial No. 74.310. tiled December 9, 1925, now Patent No. hot-35,705, granted. July 12, 1927, of which this application is a part contilnlation. in m y aforesaid application I have described the utility of my ladder (arranged as a step ladder) :tor supporting a staging, as well as its adaptability for use on staiirways or in like situations where the supporting element for the rear member of the ladder lllgllel' than the support upon which the front n1e1nher (it the ladder rests.

l have now devised an improved ladder which, in addition to the utilities of my prior ladder, capable ()l standing vertically upright even when extended and, if desired, supporting a staging while in this position. To this end, as well as to adapt the ladder to orchard use, I have provided certain adjunctive elements in combination with features of the ladder o'li my prior application (slightly modilied and improved as to its details), and. in tho accompanying dri'rwings I have illustrated my improved ladder together with those auxiliary devices which I provide for cooperation therewith.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved ladder structure arrai'igenl as a stepladdcr;

Fig. 2 is a, rear elevation of the ladder shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section to larger scale on the line 33 of F1 g. 2;

Fig. 4. is a tragmentary horizontal section on the line 4t stof Fig. 3;

F i g. 5 is a itragnientary detail section on the line of Fig. 2;

Fig. ti is a vertical section showing the structure arianged as an extension ladder, leaning against a vertical surface;

Fig" 7 is a side elevation illustrating an arran gem cnt employing two of my ladder de vices extended and standing vertically upright to support a staging;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation to larger scale looking from the left-hand side of Fig. 7

1927. Serial at. 205,200.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of an attachment useful in holding the extended ladder upright;

Fig. 10 is a tragmentary side elevation slmwing my ladder prov idcd with an attaclt n'ient enabling it to be used on. a stairway;

Fig. 11 i a rear ehwation ot the uttachn'ient shown in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a fragnientary elevation, partly in section, showing an attachment designed to adapt the ladder tor orchard use.

My inn n'oved ladder (SU'IIiPl'lHGH the front (or step) portion 1 and the rear (brace or extension) member 2. The front member 1 comprises spaced side rails 3 and 4 preferably diverging from top to bottom and having flat guide bars 5 and G attachial to their rear edges respectively. These guide bars preterably increase in width from top to bottom so as to provide a space of uniform width be tween their opposed edges and they extend downwardly to a point near but spaced from the lower ends of the rails and. l.- (Figs. 1. and 2).

The bars .3 and G are Furnished with longitudinally extending guide grooves or rabbets 7 and 8 in their forward tacos, the purpose of which is hereinafter described. The rails 3 and 4: carry a series of flat stel such. as are commonly used in cp-ladder coi'istructions, the lo wern'lost step being indicated a t 9, the intermediate steps at 10, and the top step at 11. A brace or abutment member 12 connects the rails 3 and "4; at a point just below the top step 11. Preferably this brace or abutment 12 is tenoned into the lower su rtace oi the top step 11. Inorder to furnish a broad siiipport tor the front member of the ladder, particularly when .it is to be used on soft ground, I provide broad feet 13 and jl-t attached, l'Oll'lOr'HldV. it desired, to the lower portions of the Tails 3 and 4t and projecting laterally outavard.

Near the upper end of the trout member I provide a guide and retainer tor the rear member 2. This guide or retainer 15 is pref erably oit U-shape, having its ends bolted to the 'uppern'iost oi: the intermediate steps 10 and its central portion 16 projectingrearwardly beyond the step.

The rear member J min mises the parallel side rails 17 and 18 which are held in SPHPWl relation by means of the steps or rungs it).

Near the lower end of the rear member 2 the rails 17 and 18 are also connected by means of an abutment brace 20. This brace preferably consists of a metal bar attached near its opposite ends to the rails 17 and 18 and preferably having a central brace lug 21 which is secured to the adjacent rung 19. The abutment brace projects beyond the rails 17 and 18, thus providing the tongues 22 and 23 which are adapted to slide in the guide grooves 7 and 8 respectively of the guide members 5 and (5. The engagement of these tongues with the guide grooves prevents the rear member from swinging outwardly and away from the front member 1. Preferably the lower ends of the rails 17 and 18 are provided with iiiwardly directed feet 13 and 14 respectively.

A swinging stop 24, of substantially U-shape, is pivotally secured at its opposite ends to the rails 17 and 18 of the rear member 2. This stop 24 hangs vertically, as shown in Fig. 1, when the structure is used as a stepladder, but when employed as an extension ladder, as shown in Fig. 6, this stop 24 is swung forwardly and overlies one of the steps 9, 10, etc. of the front member. Vhen in this position the stop member 24 also engages the lower edge of the metal abutment brace 20 which furnishes a rigid and unyielding surface through which the pressure of the extension member 2 is transmitted to the stop as.

The rails 17 and 18 of the rear member 2 are provided with aligned openings near their upper ends, preferably above the uppermost rung 19, for the reception of a bar 25. The opposite ends 26 and 27 of this bar project beyond the rails 17 and 18 and are adapted to engage the parallel side members 1o and 16 of the guiding retainer 15. The forward edges of the rails 17 and 18 normally engage the rear edges of the steps of the front member 1 while the rear edges of the rails 17 and 18 are adapted to slide in contact with the member 16.

One end, for example the end 27, of the pivot bar is preferably shaped to form a handle for withdrawing the bar when desired, but in order to prevent undesired longitudinal movement of the bar I providea resilient retainer 28 consisting of a flat spring attached to the inner surface of one of the rails, for example the rail 18 of the rear member 2, such resilient member 28 normally pressing against the pivot bar 25 with sufficient force to prevent its accidental removal. The end 26 of the bar 25 is preferably screw threaded for the reception of a wing nut whose use'is hereafter described.

When the ladder is employed as an extension ladder the parts assume positions such as shown in Fig. 6, the upper part of the extension or rear member being held in contact with the front member 1 by means of the retainer guide 16 while the lower parts of the ladders are held in proper relation by the tongues 22 and 23 engaging the guide bars 5 and 6. The ladder is held in properly adjusted position by engagement of the stop 24-. with a selected step of the front member. As thus arranged the upper end of the extension may rest against a wall \V or other surface and the combined structure is used like an ordinary extension ladder.

\Vhen the ladder is to be used as a slepladder the extension is dropped downwardly until the tongues 22 and 23 escape beneath the lower ends of the guide bars 5 and (3. At this time the pin rests upon the members In" and 16 and the rear member 2 may he swung backwardly until its upper end strikes the abutn'ient member 12 shown in Fig. 3. ln order to hold the ladder securely in this position I prefer to provide brace hooks 2.) attached to the rear surfaces of the guide members 5 and (5 respectively and which may be hooked into engagement with suitable eyes carried by the rails 17 and '18. When the hulder is not in use or when employed as an extension laddcr the hooks 2t) may be secured against swinging by engaging them with suitable spring clips 29.

In order to adapt the ladder t'filltstl'llt'lllflll for use upon a stairway 1 provide a short rear member 2, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, which maybe substituted for the rear member 2 above described. This short rear member 2" comprises the side rails 17 and l8 and the rungs 19. The rails i7 and. l8="are furnished with openings 25 at their upper ends for the reception of the pivot rod 2:). This short rear section may be substituted for the normal. or long rear section 2, merely by witlulrawing the pivot rod, detaching the normal sect ion by dropping it endwise from out the guide in, and then thrusting the short section upwardly through the guide 16 and passing the pivot rod through the openings 25. This rear member 2" may also be provided with eyes for engagement by the hooks 21). This short rear member is adapted, as shown in Fig. 10. to rest upon a stair S while the lower end of the frontincmber 1 rests upon the Hour, thus permitting the steps 10 to remain in normal horizontal position and all'ording the desired stability for the ladder. hen thus employed. the ladder may well form a support for one end of a plank or staging P.

Under some circumstances it may be desired to employ the ladder while extended for supporting a staging or plank. and in this also since the ladder can not always be inclined against a. wall or other support and since the rear n'ien'iber when extended no longer constitutes a brace, it is necessary to provide some other means of holding the ladder upright. To this end I employ attach ments such as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The attachment shown in Fig. 5) preferably comprises a pair of brace legs 31 and 32 having openings 33 and 33 at their upper ends re- Hll lllfi llti lil l spectively for the reception of the rod which at this time is not needed as a pivot. This rod is parsed through verti cally elonirate openings :lormcd in the side rails 2, and l; oi. the front. section 1 ol the ladder and the parts are held in assembled relation by tightening the wing nut Preferably the brace legs 3 l.

i i and 32 are connected by means of a folding strut comprising the members 3b and 37, each plvotally secured atone cud lo on 0 oil the legs or braces 3i, and 32 and pivotally united at their other ends. 1 also prefer to ilnrnish the legs 31. and 52 with pivoted braces 33 and 34; respectively adapted to be secured to the front section 1 by means of bolts pas-Jim; through elongate slots in the rails 8 and l. These b aces 3? and ii -l1, when not in use, may be secijired against swinging; by nnains ojt sprin clips 35 When not in use th is brace inel'nber, li'oiuprising legs 31 andv 3:3, may be rcini'ived iil't desired and tl olded by collapsin the strut 8G, 37, so that the combined striujture occupies but small space, but when in use the members 31!. and are spread apart, the rod 25 passed. through the openings 233 and 33 and. through the slots 30, and. the wing nut 35 on the end oi. the rod. is tightened to hold the parts securely in posi tion. The legs 31 and 32 being swung outwardly, the braces 63 and El -l are fixedly secnrcd to the rails 3 and 4! to hold the lens in proper position. The extended ladder 5.? (Fig. 7) may now stand 'lu'iright without ad ditional support and may be used tor supporting one end of a plank or stag-inn P.

in some situations I may prefer to employ a double brace structure instead o't that shown :in Fig. 9, and as indicated at the ri a'hthand side o'l l? 7 this double brace structure may conuprise two sets oi the brace legs shown in liig. 9, each set having hinge brackets as at its upper end, the hinge brackets oi the two sets being provided with aligned openings for the reception of the rod 25 in lhe same vay as above described in respect to Fig. 9. Each set of legs may be provided. with pivoted braces 39 and 40 respectively for holding them in properly exteinlcd position, and, when thus extended the ladder structure 2 is capable of standing upright without support from any other structure and the double b 'ace fiiiioislie' a broad and substantial base so that the ladder may be extended to its uppermost limit \vi'tl'uart any tendency to tip. its thus ar ringed the ladder may also be used :[Tor supporting one end of a. stage P.

By providing the elongate slots 30 for the pivot rod 52F and the elongat slots for the bolts holding the braces 34:, 39 and {I10 in pos-iition it is possible to adjust the h 'aces to uneven grouniil and also to fold the legs with their lower ends tlush with the ends o'l rails 3 and. 4.

I have found that my ladder is par-lieu larly usclul. :l'or orchard work, for example in picking 'lruit or pruning trees, and, in order to adapt it for this purpose l have provided, as shown in llfi i g. .12, a pointed nose member ll. which covers and protects the upper end of the ladder so lhat it may he thrust readily up among the branches of a trex and may .lind a proper support or rest in the crotch o'l" a tree. This nose piece ll preferably consists of sheet metal bent to shape and is providial with a pair of sorhcl's l2 and il-Z3 adapted to scat over the upper ends of the extension rails ll" and reiaiectirely. 'llhci ze sockets are Jreli ral ily providml with downy ardly extending; lonoues *lwland respectively havina' opcuiu for the reception oil? the rod lhe rod 52? thus has a three :l'old lunction, in romovaliily holding the nosing: ell in position; in constitutiua; a pivot tor either of the interclnlnpyeahle rear sections; and in il orininp clamping; means For securing the ai'lxiliary brace or braces to the :lront section.

l claim:

'1. A. ladder of the class described co1nprisin a trout section and a rear section, iacl 1. sccticm having spaced side rails and a plurality o-l' steps, lonojil uJdihal gn ides secured to the rear edges of 'lhe 'ails oi the :liront section, said. guides having rabbets inv their :liorward :taces, lllQl-R projecting; from the lower part of the rear section into the 1': bbets of the re spective guid ml, means retaining the upper part of the rear section in. assembled relation With the trout section, feet projecting out Wardly from the lower ends (ill the front section, and :lt'eet projectin o inwardly from the lower ends of [he side rails of the rear section.

2. A ladder o-lf the class described co1nprisinn a :l'ron t section and a rear section, arch section havin spaced side rails and a plurality oil steps, the ails of the front section being, spaced more widely at the bottom than at the top and the rails of the rear section being substantially parallel, a :flat guide secured to the rear edge of each rail. oil? the front section, said guide increasing; in width from the top Of the section toward the bottom but terminating above the lower end oil the trout section, the tlront :lface of each guide being provided with a. lonaitudiinil 'abbet, lugs projecting laterally from the lOWGl' part ol the rear section into said llllJllGlH. and meansholding the upper part at the rear section in assembled relation with the 'lront section.

3. A. ladder of the class described comprising :lri'mt and rear sections, ach section having; spaced siia'is, a U-shaped retainer guide projecting ream 'ardly trom an upper step of: the l'roul; i-icction and mnbracing the rear section, a removable pivot pin normally passing through aligneril openings in the side rails oil? the rear section, the ends of the pin being adzugitcd lo ciug'age the U-shaped retainer guide, a resilient means for preventing accidental longitudinal movement of the pin, and projections adjacent to the lower end of the rear section engageable with guide means on the front section for keeping the lower ends of. the front and rear sections in engagement 7 as they are moved longitudinally relatively to each other.

4:. A ladder of the class described comprising a front section and a rear section, each section having spaced side rails and a plurality of steps, means for guiding the rear section to slide longitudinally of the front section, a pivot pin carried by the rear section and a retainer member on the front sec tion with which said pin may engage to form an axis about which the rear section may swing relatively to the front section, and a nose piece on the rear section having elements engageable with said pivot pin for holding it 1 in position.

5. A ladder of the class described comprising a front section and a rear section, each section having spaced side rails and a plurality of steps, means for guiding the rear section to slide longitudinally of the front section, and a pointed nose piece having socket members for the reception of the upper ends of the side rails of the rear section.

6. A ladder of the class described comprising a front section and a rear section, each section having spaced side rails and a plurality of steps, means for guiding the rear section to slide longitudinally of the front section, a pointed nose piece for protecting the upper end of the rear section, said nose piece having sockets for the reception of the ends of the side rails of the rear section, and a removable pin for holding the nose piece in position, said pin also constituting, a pivot about which the rear section may swing relatively to the front section.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 27th day of June, 1927.

EMILIO CARDARELLI. 

